Work out like a dog

Chasing a ball and bringing it back again and again (and again), dashing around aimlessly, having a good old dig: it may sound like ideal walkies material for dogs, but for participants of new fitness bootcamp we created for pet charity Blue Cross,Work Out Like A Dog,it’s strictlyhumansdoing the retrieving. That’s becauseWork Out Like A Dogis the world’s first exercise class in which humans exclusively exercise like dogs.

We developed the (slightly barking) bootcamp with a qualified PT and fitness instructor to get more humans to understand and appreciate the health benefits that dogs get from their favourite outdoor activities. Blue Cross was keen to raise awareness of how exercise keeps dogs healthy and happy, as high numbers of dogs arrive at the Blue Cross centres across the country due to behavioural needs stemmed from under-stimulus or lack of appropriate activities and exercise. The 69 coverage clippings include two pieces in the Metro, Mashable, TimeOut London (online and in print), Huffington Post, BBC Radio London (twice), several What’s On sites such as Secret London and Pick Me Up. We’ve even seen the class reach the shores of Australia.

All of the exercises in the 45-minute aerobic and conditioning workout for humans have either been adapted from a dog’s favourite exercises or have been directly inspired by man’s best friend. They include HIIT ball fetch, tug-of-war, Frisbee and even having humans mimic a dog’s bag of tricks as part of a circuit routine. With two classes down and more to go, we’ve already got some regulars coming back for their daily session, and even a few journalists taking part, including Your Dog and the IBT.